GRADE 10 ROCK BAND

Units at a Glance:

Throughout the course we will have:

          • personal playing tests (at 5th week, midterm, 15th, final)
          • band playing tests
          • form/elements of music analysis (every friday)


Learning about logic:

    • learn the basics of our recording/editing software: logic pro
    • write and record an audio composition (story)
    • use various effects to alter the sound of your recordings

Rotations:

- Build your own wooden Percussion Instrument (Cajon), paint it and learn to play it when you're done.

- Learn how to make electronic Dance music using Midi and Logic Pro.

- Learn another instrument (a song and two scales)

Songwriting unit(s):

    • discuss different archetypes of songs in popular music
    • write your own lyrics - printed separately and handed in
    • write a chord progression and melody
    • collaborate with other students - playing on at least one other person's song
    • record the song, with effects - mix down and send to Mr. Cummings

Acoustic Cover(s) Collaboration Unit:

    • arrange an acoustic (keyboards allowed) cover of a song with one or two other people
    • arrange ANOTHER one with a different arrangement of instrumentation
    • record your covers

Altered Cover Unit:

    • arrange a cover in a creative way - by changing one or more of the major elements of the song
      • tempo, key of the song, melody, genre, general feel...
    • record the cover

Research a Band/Artist:

    • make a slideshow about a band or artist - informing the class about who they are, what they do, where they came from, etc.
    • show your presentation and your expertise to the class
    • play audio and/or video clips for the class

Instrumental Composition -

  • In small groups compose an instrumental song (using your instruments which students play in class) which is a soundtrack for a Slideshow of images.
  • The slideshow is comprised of images about a world event such as (911, Apollo 13 crash, , Hurricane Katrina, Remembrance Day)
  • (Option: Record the composition and set it to the images, like in a video)
  • Students need to understand and communicate the relationship between the music/emotion in the music to the images.
  • A written response of musical/compositional choices and rationale provided to the teacher
  • Composition will be performed in class, while the slideshow is shown on the projector.


Analysis -

  • Being able to analyze forms of music (identifying new sections by ear, then labeling them with a proper form name upon second listen)
  • Being able to identify and describe the elements of music for a song/piece of music (Old Guys Got Good Taste - OGGGT)
  • Live performance practices (analyzing live concerts, using proper music language and conventions).